Last week, my students and I were lucky enough to have a host of community members join us for small group discussions. There were current politicians, non-profit leaders, religious leaders, community stakeholders, Rutgers reps and residents. But perhaps my favorite guests were Anthony Dillard and AJ Riggs from Made in Camden.
One of my students had specifically gone out of his way to track down Anthony and invite the Made in Camden team to class. I love seeing that energy from a student, and I love that students are bringing important what they think is important in the city to my attention.
In the case of Made in Camden, I have to agree. Homegrown artists, with a social agenda, is a real and direct way to help Camden reclaim its culture. Here’s an excerpt from an Agence France-Presse article highlighting Made in Camden’s wonderful work. By all means, read the whole thing:
“I was not supposed to be on this side of statistics — to be alive, free, to take care of my kids,” Anthony Dillard, now an entrepreneur and artist, told AFP.
Grateful for his reversal of fortune, the bearded, soft-spoken 40-year-old with a broad smile decided to try to make a difference.
Photo by Agence France-Presse
Together with his partner AJ Riggs, he created a fashion label last year — “Made in Camden” — in the aim of “restoring the morale and pride of our community.”
Dillard is hoping that his creations — from baby onesies to bright T-shirts — can help put the city back on the map for reasons other than ruin and rampant crime.
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